Ignore COA 25 alpha-numeric code


  1. Posts : 39
    win7 home premium 64 bit
       #1

    Ignore COA 25 alpha-numeric code


    Hi,
    The pc floats win7 home premium 64 bit. The 3.2GB win10 ISO was downloaded and burned to dvd. Boot to dvd to start upgrade I was asked for the 25 character product code. I don't have one for win10. The win7 installed is genuine.
    The instructions do not describe this response so I quit install.
    This was on line free upgrade package for win7/8 to win10.
    The ISO did not allow me to choose a partition, by the point I quit. Will I have that choice should I decide to ignore the 25 character code? This PC has dual boot: win7-64/Mint-64.
    win7 is a good platform to work from but it will go away like all those before.
    Has anyone left the 25 char code for later, continued install, and get genuine win10 stamp?
    What is needed to get that?
    thanks,
    Keith
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #2

    See my post in another thread, may apply to you also. Windows 10 initial setup showing no option for 'Upgrade' - Windows 10 Forums
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 39
    win7 home premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hi, ok I read the post, however; do get the correlation. I have genuine win7 installed and trying to do the free upgrade to win10. I select the install now to be prompted for the 25 character product code, which I do not have. I do have the choice to do that later and proceed.
    The problem is this flow was not described by the ISO download documentation.
    I have concerns that I will get win10 and loose my ability to authenticate it. I was willing to take a chance that the SW would see this as an upgrade and act install accordingly. Maybe that in itself is foolish.

    I bought win8 tried it, did all I could to make it mirror win7 and after 2 weeks of using it I removed it and reinstalled win7.

    Yes I can run the gambit again but would prefer not to. It takes a couple days to reinstall windows and linux and all their updating and personalizing.

    I downloaded ISO and burned DVD from: Windows 10

    If I proceed with the install ignoring the 25 character code entry
    Will I get win 10 authenticated?
    Can I revert back to win7-64 should win10 behave like win8?
    thanks,
    Keith
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 13
    Windows 10 IP
       #4

    What I would do is run the installer from within Windows 7 rather than boot from the DVD. That way it should validate Windows 7 and proceeed to upgrade it.


    klong915 said:
    Hi, ok I read the post, however; do get the correlation. I have genuine win7 installed and trying to do the free upgrade to win10. I select the install now to be prompted for the 25 character product code, which I do not have. I do have the choice to do that later and proceed.
    The problem is this flow was not described by the ISO download documentation.
    I have concerns that I will get win10 and loose my ability to authenticate it. I was willing to take a chance that the SW would see this as an upgrade and act install accordingly. Maybe that in itself is foolish.

    I bought win8 tried it, did all I could to make it mirror win7 and after 2 weeks of using it I removed it and reinstalled win7.

    Yes I can run the gambit again but would prefer not to. It takes a couple days to reinstall windows and linux and all their updating and personalizing.

    I downloaded ISO and burned DVD from: Windows 10

    If I proceed with the install ignoring the 25 character code entry
    Will I get win 10 authenticated?
    Can I revert back to win7-64 should win10 behave like win8?
    thanks,
    Keith
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #5

    Correct, you must upgrade and activate Win 10 before you can do a clean install.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 39
    win7 home premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I'm not sure that it would make a difference whether the install occurs via a boot DVD or the install from the boot DVD is invoked via the pc's current operating system. Ztucker seems to be writing about some mythical place, hmm: is that win10? By what stretch of one's imagination can one upgrade and activate anything to then install it, oh ya, cleanly install it.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 44
    Windows 7 , 8.1 and Mint
       #7

    I'm not sure that it would make a difference whether the install occurs via a boot DVD or the install from the boot DVD is invoked via the pc's current operating system.
    Yes, there is a big difference. If you boot from the DVD, you won't be able to do an upgrade - you can only perform a clean install but a "Windows 7" key can't be used for that. You should run the setup from within Windows 7 for a free upgrade (setup needs to verify your OS which can't be done offline ). Once W10 is sucessfully activated, you will be able to do a clean install.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #8

    Do an image backup of your current system. Clean Install Windows 7 and activate, install SP1 if needed then upgrade to 10. Sort of like a Clean Install.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 39
    win7 home premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hi,
    I launched the media upgrade iso from a certified windows 7 64 bit partition on my PC. All went well. The upgrade even included windows 10 version of windows 7 boot launcher (there are three partitions on this drive). Windows 10 is activated and all seems good so far. I need to find some applications that were part of windows 7 and 10 but their location in windows 10 is not obvious. This includes some start-up routines that do start in windows 10 but just need to find them. So All seems good.
    Thanks,
    Keith
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 00:45.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums